FAQ (for filmmakers)

Attending the Festival

Communications/Media

  • You can find the weekend schedule here!

  • We can provide 3 free festival passes to each film (due to seating restrictions).

    With these 3 festival passes, up to 3 crew members will be allowed into all screenings and the after party for free.

  • Unfortunately, we’re only able to provide three free festival passes per film. However, all members of your crew are welcome to pick up a festival badge, which grants access to networking events and ensures you’re part of the celebration throughout the weekend.

    Additional filmmakers beyond the three pass holders will need to purchase tickets to the film screenings and after party through our website — we recommend securing them early, as screenings often sell out quickly!

    If cost is a concern, we encourage you to consider volunteering — it’s usually a small time commitment and includes free entry to the screening you volunteer at.

    We truly appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to grow — we’re a small film festival with big goals, and your support means the world to us.

    If you're still running into challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out— we’ll do our best to help.

  • As you can see in the full schedule there is a networking event on:

    • Friday night 5-6:15pm

    • Saturday Afternoon 11:30 AM-12:45 PM

    These networking events will be held at the Peoria Riverfront Museum (PRM) in the lobby, just down the way from the Giant Screen Theater. When you arrive at the PRM, a volunteer will be waiting inside to tell you where to go.

  • You can buy tickets for the festival here.

    Please share this link with your family and friends and encourage them to purchase tickets early!

  • No, you and your film entire crew do not have to pay to get into the networking events. You are all invited to attend for free.

    • Friday, Nov. 21.- 5-6:15pm - expect light refreshments and mingling.

    • Saturday, Nov. 22 - 11:30-12:45pm - expect light breakfast snacks, like bagels and coffee, and more mingling with filmmakers from the festival.

  • We have a limited number of hotel rooms for filmmakers at a discounted rate of $99 at a hotel in walking distance of the festival.

    P.S. if you are having any difficulties with your travel plans, feel free to reach out and we will do our best to support you.

  • We have a list of personal recommendations from our Peoria-based programming team

    We will be updating the list as we get closer to the festival and find out more about other events happening that weekend. Feel free to contact us with any recommendation requests. :)

  • Please explore our website and reach out here or via email if you can’t find your answer. We’ll do our best to address all of your questions.

  • Can you please share the following: 

    - Stills

    - Film poster (if you have one)

    - BTS photos/videos

    - Head shot of director/producer(s)

    - Trailer (if you have one)

    Please create a folder in this google drive folder with YOUR NAME_YOUR FILM NAME. 

    By sharing these you are ok with them being used for social media. 

  • Please upload your final film to this google drive folder.

    Uploading your film to the folder means that no more corrections or edits will be made to the film, and that it is ready to be screened as-is. 

    If you need more time to make final tweaks to your film, such as color or sound edits, you have until November 1, 2025 to do so. 

    If you do not share the film with us through this folder by November 1, 2025, you will risk us not playing your film at the festival. If you can only send via vimeo.com or WeTransfer that's fine, please add a document to the google drive with the link to download. 

    • High Res preferred, but 4K or 1920x1080 works fine!

  • Please explore our website and reach out here or via email if you can’t find your answer. We’ll do our best to address all of your questions.

  • Sign up for Whatsapp: Here is the link to our 2025 BPPFF Filmmakers WhatsApp.

    If you do not have Whatsapp, but want us to connect you with other filmmakers attending the festival, please reach out to us and we’ll connect you!

  • Here is the laurel center:

    https://filmfreeway.com/laurels/45282/BigPictureFilmFestival